CJ vs. 4-runner

[iwakunijeeper]

Getting back from a year tour in Japan soon and going to have a little cash to spend so I am looking at getting a CJ or a older 4-runner. I like them both if I got a jeep it would be the fourth I have owned. I owned a 86 toyota pickup and I loved it as much as I loved my jeeps. My question is which would you choose. The vehicle would be used as a DD and trail rig until I get some more money saved up to buy a economical DD or tow rig at which point it would become a trail only rig. Lastly what year did they start putting IFS in the yotas. Thanks for your help
Andrew
P.S. It is late and I am too lazy to fix the puncuation and grammar so if it sucks you will just have to deal for a while.

 

[Coreshot]

1986 was the first year for IFS on the Toys. If you're lucky, you can find an '85 with the 22RE motor. This way, you would have a solid axle front, and fuel injection. However, there are certain advantages to buying a newer Toy and having a solid axle swap performed. One is, of course, it's a newer vehicle. Also the rear axles on the IFS trucks are wider than the earlier ones. You may want a V6, which came out , I believe, in '87.

As for which vehicle to buy, that's just a personal preference. Both vehicles can be highly modified with parts available through aftermarket companies. You will gain an advantage with the Toy's wheelbase, which is in the 104-106" range. The jeep, both CJ5 and 7, are under 100".

You can get a Jeep with a V8, not really necessary for rockcrawling with all the gearing options available to us, but I like them. 4-Runners are more family friendly, more seating and cargo space.

There are plenty of both types of vehicles on this board, so I would suggest that you attend a couple of trail rides and see for yourself what you prefer.

 

[greenjeep]

I'd go CJ-7 hands down (I might be a bit prejudice though). Parts are way easy to find, there are more engine options, and it's much eassier to remove the top and doors for true 4-wheeling.

I may be hated for saying this, but . . .

I think that no matter how big and bad you make a Toyota, it will never look as good or as mean as a nice lifted CJ.

I know this Toy isn't lifted (it's the only one I had on my computer), but you get the point.

 

[beasttoyota4x4]

just get a toy and be done!

if you get a jeep you'll be replacing something all the time. if its not the drivetrain it'll be the engine.

toyotas can be built! i have 4" of lift and plenty of room for 35's. try that on a jeep and you'll need 5 feet of lift to fit those tires. also, toyotas have a real frame, not some c-channel crap. that is if you avoid the uni-body heeps! i never have frame flex. toyotas will get you to the trail and back! don't forget reliability! while my american vehicle owning friends are replacing blown worn out motors, i am buying roll cages and gears.

just my humble opinion!

 

[greenjeep]

The way I've heard Toyota engines described, is they might last you forever, but you're not getting anywhere quick. Especially if you use a lift and big tires.

I'll take my 360 any day over a 22RE, I know I've got the power to get where I want to go without having to put something like 7.88 gears in it. Plus nothing sounds cooler than a dual-exhausted V-8.

 

[2BIGTJ]

[. Plus nothing sounds cooler than a dual-exhausted V-8.[/QUOTE]



exept for a 22re with single pipe and a a huge 5 inch chrome tip on it, Oh yeah and maybe my Craftsman Weedeater

 

[muleskinner]

Jeeps are for girls Get a Toyota.

 

[muleskinner]

[. Plus nothing sounds cooler than a dual-exhausted V-8.

exept for a 22re with single pipe and a a huge 5 inch chrome tip on it, Oh yeah and maybe my Craftsman Weedeater [/QUOTE]


I'll bet you're Weedeater will wheel better than your jeep....

 

[tweakeyjeep]

My opinion...

Get a yota if you can find it pre 86 with the solid axle... If it's going to be used for rock crawling the ifs is just a piece of junk unless you do a solid axle swap. Yeah toyotas last a long time, but I agree with Green Jeep, the 22re is a great motor, but if your using it as a daily driver, expect to put some money into it for gears.

If you get a CJ, do a YJ spring conversion and with YJ stock leaf springs do a spring over and run 33's. The YJ springs are wider than the CJ springs so they will be stronger overall, but still provide a smooth ride. Or add a 2" add a leaf into the pack and run 35's. I don't think that that would lift you 5 feet, just to fit 35's...

My opinion about jeep's reliability is the same with any other vehicle... It all has to be maintained well to last a long time. If you take the time to do the maintenance it will last forever. My jeep has only had problems with the gas lines which broke, a broken leaf spring, near D35 shaft breakage, motor mount breakage, and of course the evil U-joint breakage.

But all of this extra wear and tear comes with a lift and tires. Anytime you change anything on a vehicle from the factory it is not going to run the same/last as long. It was not designed to be set up how you set it up.

My opinion, get what you think will work best for you. What is going to get you around town for you dd and also be capable enough to handle whatever type of four-wheeling you do.

I am currently running a 4" Rubicon Express Lift and 33's. It is my daily driver as well. It runs great on the road. Even better since I got the 4.10's in it. I have tons of power in different rpm ranges where i didn't have that before the gears. The 33's aren't huge but they get me where I need to go.

 

[RockMonkey]

As a long time Jeep owner, I say get the Toy. I love the early 4Runners. Don't stress about getting one with a solid front, a solid axle swap is easy, and there are some other advantages to a newer one that a more Toyota savvy web wheeler can better infrom you about.

 

[SAMI]

My opinion...

Get a yota if you can find it pre 86 with the solid axle... If it's going to be used for rock crawling the ifs is just a piece of junk unless you do a solid axle swap.

Or add a 2" add a leaf into the pack and run 35's.

.

yeah right

.... like Rockhonkey said, the solid axle swap is nuthin..... going for a newer year would be worth it, and then just swap in a solid axle...

any add-a-leaf is just dumb in my opinion....

i'm gonna get a Toyota some day.....some, day........

 

[tweakeyjeep]

yeah right

any add-a-leaf is just dumb in my opinion....

Did I ask for your opinion?

 

[SAMI]

Did I ask for your opinion?

last i checked....i didn't think i needed you to ask me for it :suka:

by the way...iwakunijeeper asked for my opinion.....so back off....

 

[tweakeyjeep]

last i checked....i didn't think i needed you to ask me for it :suka:

by the way...iwakunijeeper asked for my opinion.....so back off....

You're right I don't need your opinion! :suka:

he asked your opinion on yota or jeep... not on lift types, but don't worry, I won't hold it against ya! :redneck:

 

[SAMI]

You're right I don't need your opinion! :suka:

he asked your opinion on yota or jeep... not on lift types, but don't worry, I won't hold it against ya! :redneck:

thanks, now i'll be able to sleep tonight

 

[RockMonkey]

thanks, now i'll be able to sleep tonight

 

[RWH]

"toyotas can be built! i have 4" of lift and plenty of room for 35's. try that on a jeep and you'll need 5 feet of lift to fit those tires. also, toyotas have a real frame, not some c-channel crap."

My 7 has 4"s plenty of room to stuff 35's No C channel frame ever on a 7. they stopped doing that on 5's in 75. i've had an AMC 304 over 500,000 miles. Long wheelbase isn't always better, I.E. tight switchbacks and manuevers between around and over boulders.

Oh and CJ's have never been Shamed With IFS.

 

[iwakunijeeper]

Thanks for all of the help. I still have not decided I do really like the way the CJ's look and I have always been a jeep guy but I also really like the Toyota's and when it comes down to it, with me just having my first of hopefully 4 or 5 kids I think that I am going to have to go with the toyota. I still have a while to think about it though. I do have some more questions though. What are the most commonly swapped axles in the after 86 yotas and how much does it cost to do the swap? What are the best street/ trail lifts for the yotas? I would love to be able to do all of the harder trails that I have never been able to do in my other jeeps but still drive home. Thanks again.

 

[SAMI]

What are the most commonly swapped axles in the after 86 yotas and how much does it cost to do the swap? What are the best street/ trail lifts for the yotas? I would love to be able to do all of the harder trails that I have never been able to do in my other jeeps but still drive home. Thanks again.

i hope i can answer this......seeing as how i didn't ask Tweakinjeep for permission...

i think that for the most part, people generally run a solid axle out of a '85 and earlier yaer toyota runner/pickup....

i like the setup on Klifo1's 4runner..... for it's somewhat simplicity and performance...

http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=7746

longer springs are sweet! proving great articulation and street ride...

finding gears and lockers is not hard at all.....it seems lately there have been quite afew setup 3rd's floatin around here for good prices....

 

[beasttoyota4x4]

great cheap combo for a suspension on a toyota.

front:
rear springs up front with add a leafs. 14 inch travel shocks. ford f-250 shock towers. 30 inch SS break lines. IFS steering box, i use a landcruiser FJ60 steering box. hysteer from all pro. longer shackles.

for the rear. almost any spring will work well. i use 91 toyota rear springs. they have plenty of flex. but not much lift. i'm working on going to a coil sprung rear suspension.

i am running 32x11.5x15's on my truck. i have the 22re. its an 85 xtra cab. 4.10 gears. i can still get up to 75. i usually cruise the highway at 70. i'd go to bigger tires but i am a poor college student with a wife and kid! i have 150000 miles on this engine without rebuilding anything.

this truck works pretty well for the trails i run. i'd like gears in the axles and tcase and i think i could go anywhere i point it.